Chapter 81: The Man She Wanted To Avoid

“Jeez Celine, did you get any sleep at all? Your eyes look so exhausted.” Natalia remarked as she strode into the kitchen.

She had been startled by the view of Celine sitting alone in the living room with dark circles under her eyes. After making a quick morning coffee, she came over to sit with her friend.

“What’s bothering you?” Natalia asked knowing there had to be a deep seethed worry to make Celine lose sleep.

“I’ve been having nightmares and it scares me.” Celine’s voice sounded hoarse which further alerted Natalia that something was indeed wrong.

“What scares you?” Natalia placed a comforting hand on her shoulder waiting patiently to hear what was on her mind.

“I fear that Leah and Leo will blame me, they will hate me for keeping them from their father.” As Celine said this, she couldn’t stop the tears from gathering in her eyes.

“Last night Leah asked me about him, but I didn’t know what to say.” Natalia sighed deeply feeling Celine’s pain, she pulled her in for a brief hug.

“It’s normal for kids to be curious Celine, you knew this would happen someday. You couldn’t possibly be both a mother and a father to your kids, it’s just not possible.”

“I just want the best for them, and I don’t want to put them in a position that will hurt them. Their father might turn them away, what will I say to them when that happens? I won’t be able to protect them from getting hurt.”

“Celine, you don’t have to try to shoulder everything on your own. Look, I know that you don’t see a possibility of ever telling Tristan Grayson you had his kids, and you don’t want the twins to meet their father. And I absolutely understand that you want to protect them, but these kids will keep asking for their father and you…”

“He’s getting married.” Celine announced, a sharp seriousness overtaking her features. “He has someone in his life Nat, who would be happy to suddenly have their fiancee show up with kids out of the blue?”

Natalia sighed heavily, “Before you think about other people’s feelings, have you thought about your own?”

Celine looked down at her fingers quietly.

“What you should think about is you and your children. If you’re so certain that Mr Grayson will turn the children away, then you don’t have to tell him but you’ll wake up everyday trying too hard to be enough for your kids but there will always be something missing. There’s a huge difference between a mother and a father and I’m sure your children are beginning to feel that difference.”

Celine could no longer deny the truth in Natalia’s words, not after she had seen that desire in Leah’s eyes last night.

“It’s been five years, it’s about time you pick up your life all over again. Start dating again and find someone, I still can’t get over the fact that you haven’t dated anyone in five years, you’re so damn stunning and if I were a man, I would be so damn persistent until you fall in love with me.”

Celine gave Natalia a look and rolled her eyes.

She hadn’t thought about dating anyone at all, even while they lived in Westwood, she rejected every man and focused her time on being a parent.

Some would give up and back off when they saw her kids, others would persistently try to get close to her children to get to her but Leo and Leah never trusted strangers.

Celine didn’t dwell on Natalia’s suggestion, since she had an important meeting that morning she rushed to get ready and she got the twins ready as well because she was bringing them along to drop them off at a daycare center she had registered into a few days ago. It was just a temporary arrangement before she would get her home and have them in one of the best schools in the city. She didn’t want to constantly impose on Natalia even if the latter insisted that she didn’t mind.

Celine arrived at the restaurant sometime later where she was supposed to be meeting up with Gina, her financial advisor and strategist. After returning to Neville, Celine decided to invest in the stocks of some really profitable businesses.

“Miss Roberts.” Gina Maverick greeted standing up from her seat as she saw Celine walk in.

The last time Gina had seen Celine was five years ago, a little change was expected however when she saw the woman, she was momentarily astounded.

Her eyes were sharper and there was a steady calmness to her aura, she used to be dazzling as a star but she was even more eye catching now, drawing attention with her mere presence. Gina noticed how many people in the restaurant craned their necks to get a second look the instant she walked in. She had the aura of someone who should be at the top, someone who could softly command a room full of people with her here presence.

They both settled in the private room after some brief pleasantries, Gina immediately got into explaining her work and how it would align with Celine’s personal goal.

“There are so many big companies in Neville miss Roberts, but I believe making the best value for your money would be more worth your time. Instead of spreading your investment across several smaller and easier to purchase companies, we could put it all together in a huge investment for a big company.”

Celine thought about it for a second before she replied, “I like that idea. Bigger companies mean more returns. I want to have a steady foothold in the real estate industry, and the bigger companies are the much better target.”

Celine’s plan to make a huge investment into real estate all circled down to one particular goal of hers. The Roberts family had been enjoying the luxury all their lives, ostracizing her from something her mother worked to create.

If it hadn’t been for her mother’s contributions In the past, Silverline Realty would never exist, yet at the end of the day after her death, her father completely discarded her mother’s memory allowing strangers to enjoy the fruits of her hard labor.

Celine wanted to see the man fall off his high horse and crumble right before her eyes, he didn’t deserve to enjoy all that luxury, so she planned to take Silverline right out of his hands. But over the years, having collaborated with Grayson Corp, Silverline Realty had grown stronger and it wasn’t exactly easy to infiltrate directly. So while slowly stealing their assets, she would build a foothold in the industry before then.

“You have a good vision miss Roberts, which is why I’ve pulled a few strings. I have to tell you it took me months to get into the biggest real estate company in the country but your investment is thankfully big enough to cater to that. You don’t need to worry about anything anymore miss Roberts, getting into Grayson Corp has already solidified your presence in the real estate industry…”

Gina was rambling about her difficulties in getting into the company and securing a position as an investor in the company. People vied to invest their funds into Grayson Corp because there were no risks, there was only certainty for great returns hence putting in an investment was a highly competitive thing. However she didn’t notice the change in Celine’s expression.

“I’ve spoken to the lawyers and confirmed the papers, all you’d have to do is sign and the deal is complete. You will never regret going into Grayson Corp, that I assure you.”

Celine was frozen where she sat, unable to move for a long time.

“Grayson Corp? Did you just say Grayson Corp?” Her heartbeat stopped and she was gazing hopefully at Gina wishing she would change her words.

It couldn’t be Grayson Corp?

She couldn’t have walked right into a corporation owned by the very man she wanted to avoid.

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